Video Hut and Chill

Let's do our part to keep our last video rental store alive!

The next time you fire up the boob tube and turn on your streaming service to watch the latest five-star movie, try to remember what it was like when you had to go to a store to rent movies. Back then there as no “Netflix and Chill.” In those days it was known as “Make it a Blockbuster Night.” Going to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video to rent a movie was actually a thing once upon a time. Even Netflix, the most popular streaming service started off as a DVD and Blu-ray rental service. (They still offer a DVD-only subscription.) Video Hut Highland Park.

Video rental stores are almost extinct, which is why we need to protect the ones that are still around. Video Hut on Figueroa is one of the last remaining video rental shops in Los Angeles, and it’s definitely the last one in Highland Park.“We’ve been in the business in this area since 2004,” says Chris, owner and operator. “From what I’ve seen, the kids nowadays, they don’t watch movies. They’re on social media. They watch YouTube. But our customers have been very loyal.”

New Releases at Video Hut (Steffi Victorioso)

For the population that prefers a streaming service over watching DVDs, there may still be something here for you. “The way Netflix operates, sometimes they’ll have [a movie], but then their license will expire and then it’s gone. With us, it’s always going to be here,” says Chris. You might be surprised to find certain movies and TV series here that you can’t stream on Netflix.

You won’t find these on Netflix. (Steffi Victorioso)You can’t stream this Christopher Meloni flick, but you can rent it at Video Hut. (Steffi Victorioso)

Video Hut Highland Park recently moved to a new location only a few blocks away from their original location. The new store, which they’ve only been at for a couple of weeks, is smaller, so they’ve had to shrink their inventory. Even so, they still carry around 5,000 titles.

Video Hut carries 5,000 titles. (Steffi Victorioso)

You can find TV series and movies here – new, classic, and some you’ve never heard of before. In addition to renting, they also buy and sell DVDs. So if you’ve got some that you want to sell, take them here. They’re open everyday from 11 A.M. to 10 P.M.